1934-1936 Diamond Stars: #61 - "Billie" Werber

Sunday, February 21, 2021

#61 - "Billie" Werber - Boston Red Sox

William Murray Werber

Boston Red Sox

Third Base

Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 5'10" Weight: 170

Born: June 20, 1908, Berwyn, MD

Major League Teams: New York Yankees 1930, 1933; Boston Red Sox 1933-1936; Philadelphia Athletics 1937-1938; Cincinnati Reds 1939-1941; New York Giants 1942

World Series Appearances: Cincinnati Reds 1939-1940

Died: January 22, 2009, Charlotte, NC (100)

The speedy Billy Werber led the American League in stolen bases in three different seasons and provided steady defense at third base for the Red Sox, Athletics and Reds during the peak of his career between 1934 and 1941. He enjoyed his best season in 1934 when he hit a career high .321 with 41 doubles and 40 stolen bases (both also career highs) while finishing 12th in the MVP voting. Werber led all third baseman in assists twice (1934 and 1939) and in fielding percentage in 1940.

Werber in 2008 at his retirement home in North Carolina (Getty Images)

Sold by the Athletics to the Reds in March 1939, he helped lead that team to two straight World Series appearances, winning the title in 1940. He was the first player ever to have a televised at bat when he led off for the Reds in a game against the Dodgers at Ebbets Field on August 26, 1939. Werber was part of a strong Reds' infield consisting of Frank McCormick at first and Lonny Frey at second. He led his team with a .370 average (10 for 27) in the 1940 World Series against the Tigers, in a series won in seven games.

Werber retired following the 1942 season with a .271 average and 1,363 hits over 1,295 games. He stole 215 bases as one of the most aggressive baserunners of the 1930s, and he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1961. Werber had the distinction of being the last living member of the original Diamond Stars set, and the last living teammate of Babe Ruth (#109b) as he passed away in 2009 at the age of 100.

Building the Set

January 8, 2021 from Lutz, FL - Card #6

This Werber card had been on my eBay watch list since December, and when I got the alert the listing was ending soon I decided to add it to my set. The card was $30 from seller benb51 from Lutz, Florida and it arrived during a week when old baseball cards proved to be a welcome distraction from sad and historical events happening in the real world.

Variations Available

1 - 1935 / green back / 1934 statistics / 1935 copyright

The Card / Red Sox Team Set

If I didn't know better, I'd say National Chicle was successfully predicting the Houston Astros' tequila sunrise jerseys that would debut 40 years after this card was issued. The background rainbow behind Werber immediately made me think of those Astros' jerseys. The write-up on the back of the card theorizes on Werber's success as a base stealer.

1935 Season

Before the start of the 1935 season, the Red Sox and Senators essentially traded managers with Joe Cronin (#123) coming to Boston and Bucky Harris (#91) going to Washington. Under Cronin's leadership, Werber kept his job as the every day third baseman but his average slipped to .255 over 124 games. Werber missed a number of games from the effects of a broken toe suffered the season before when he angrily kicked a dugout bucket after a pop up. Werber still managed to lead the Red Sox in home runs with 14.